Review: Severance – The Lexington Letter (Spoiler-Alert + Theories)
Severance is the most underrated show on television.
The show itself is already underrated, but "The Lexington Letter"? Completely and utterly slept on. Honestly though, that's Apple's fault. Why does no one know this exists?? It's literally free!!! FREE!
If you haven't watched the show, look away from this review immediately. Boot up your TV and watch the series. Then come back. Because I'm whipping out some theories.
I am in shock as to how much this letter reveals that we don't learn in season one of the show. I will lay out each aspect here and describe any implications I think each one provides.
1. Macrodata Refinement as Terrorism
This letter suggests that the "mysterious and important" work that MDR does is somehow orchestrate violent attacks against competitor companies. Yeah, you're gonna need to read that again. I know I did. Absolutely wild that this novella proposes this when the show suggests nothing like it. I can't help but wonder if this is a direction things will go in season two, or just a red herring.
2. The Four Tempers
The show includes a quote from Kier Eagen about what he identifies as "the four tempers". They are Woe, Frolic, Dread, and Malice. This letter, and the following MDR guide, reveal that these are the categories MDR sorts numbers into (and a fifth bin that I haven't figured out).
What really blew my mind though is that these tempers connect to the weirdass sex dancers at the waffle party. Each one is dressed as a character to match one of the tempers (fool, bride, crone, and ram). Upon rewatch of season one, I also realized these characters match those in the painting in the wellness center, "Kier Taming the Four Tempers".
The Severance Wiki suggests that this temper model is inspired by the archaic idea of "humors of the body" controlling behavior and disease.
3. Lumon is a Nationwide Company
This excerpt takes place in Topeka, KS while the show takes place in Kier, PE (a fictional state). This demonstrates that Lumon is a national company, but also suggests to me that maybe the office in the show is the headquarters.
4. The Bad Soap
It's confirmed that Lumon began as a "topical salve company" but has now grown into encompassing some sort of bioengineering in general. Still vague on specifics, but after perusing the wiki, I came across the detail of the Bad Soap.
In the show, there is normal (albeit unlabeled soap, as Irving points out) in the bathrooms, but also Bad Soap used as punishment. We have never witnessed it, but have heard it referenced.
5. Multiple Milchicks
The journalist who dismisses the significance of writing an exposé is none other than a... Jim Milchick!!! We know the character in the show is Seth Milchick (unless that is a lie lol, but this journalist is from Topeka so I'm inclined to think he is not the same person). That means this is likely a relative, and this claim is bolstered by the fact that he says he knows someone high up at Lumon (also fuels my theory that the show office is the headquarters!).
It was just announced that season two will begin release on January 17 and I legitimately cannot wait. I am nervous for the follow-through because I'm so invested and there is a LOT up in the air. Only time will tell if it sticks the landing.
Someone better tell me what the fuck is up with the goats.
